San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-24
sCouNTYT sTHURD
NO. a..
a scattered around, bore evidence to its

ana Ncattcreu hrVuuu, ooro oNuohco w iW
violence.
They wont silently along through the
dripping grasses. now aud then splashing
into treacherous little pools hidden under
their rank growth.
When they reached the edge Of the park
they found the little ravinc. usually an in
significant barrier, now swollen TO n tiny
ri iulet rushing proudly onward. Involun-
tarily Ruth raised her eyes 10 her compan-
ion, aud he. with grim smile at the silent
appeal for assistancr. placed one arm around
her aud with aquick spring landed softly
upon the other side. With his arm around
her waist and her heart beating against his
own, with nm impulse that he could not re-
sist, ere he placed her down, he bent his
head and pressed his lips passionately to her
own.
The next moment, as Ruth burst into
tempestuous food OF to 'rs. be was furious
with himself aud would have given his right
arm TO have recalled the act.
II can hardly ask you to even forgive me,
Ruth" he said bumbly. ''You emit pos
sibly despiso me for my cowardice more
than do myself. But why shouldn't IT
with sudden heat. II love you, nnd be-
lieve you love me. BY heaven. l do! /
hnve seen il in the lighting of your eyes,
the flush on yoir cheek at our unexpected
meeting, ere you had time to steel yourself
against me; and there IL nothing in the way,
nothing under heiven but your stubborn
pride. We will end tho matter here and
now" he said, reso!utely, folding his arms
across his chest II ain not the man TO
hang upon uncertainty. / ask yon for the
last time TO be my wife. love you pas
sionately. devotedly. aud life will he n blank
| .,;, M hnt .an M N n
face and tell me honestly aud sincerely that
you do not love me aud don't think you
ever eau, 1 will rid you Of my presence for
ever"
Almost against her will she raised her
face to his. LEO, -" sho began, but
the truthful soul could not utter tho false
hood, for in that moment she knew that she
really and TRULY loved HIM, and she hid her
burnipg face in her bands.
"Ah, knew III" he cried triumphantly,
and taking the face now grown paie with
conflicting emotions, between his hands, he
showured kisses upon the waving hair,
trembling lips and white cheeks, where the
crimson tide rushed quickly in response to
the touch of his lips.
"My little Ruth, you will never regret
your choice" he said tenderly. II have
been Wild reckless wicked, but, please God,
from this day dedicate myself TO new
life, and my one aim and purpose will be
Your happiness
"Oh, what viii papa say" cried Ruth, the
thought striking terror to her heart.
"Oh, good deal, no doubt" he said,
| lightly; "but can manage that; leave that
to me-" And he smiled in conscious strength.
Leo was for gong aud having the matter
out ut once. but Ruth entrented SO to the
contrary that Mt last he unwitlingly CONSENT
ed and ,urned back, leaving her to 20 alone.
When she reached home she saw her faith
er pacing the veranda. He was in fever
of impatience over her absehce, and just
upon the point OF going to seek her, when,
to his relief, he saw her coming; for he
really loved his children in his passionate,
exacting way.
II have been frightened to death about
you, child" he said, going to meet her.
"You haven't walked from O. since the
storm, have you!"
"No, papa"
mo ~ in surprise. well you surely
have been out in it'"
For moment knowing the storm she
would bring down upon herself, Ruth was
tempted to conceal her stay at Raemoor.
But anything like evasion or deception was
requisite to her straightforward nature; SO,
bracing herself with nm effort, she said faint
ly: mo, papa; was nt-Raemoor.
WHAT !"
She threw out her hands with an appeal
ing gesture. 'The storm was coming up
30 rapidly started across the park. pnd he,
Leo, met me and carried me to Raemoor,
and"
"And what2 Tell it ALL" he said, between
his set teeth.
Thoroughly frightened now, Ruth sobbed
wildly: ale said he loved me, papa"
The devil!" he foained. "And. no doubt,
You told him that you fully reciprocated itP'
"Yes, papa"
He gasped and chokcd until fairly purple.
He raised his cnched hand, and Ruth
shrank back with the deadly fear that he
would strike her to the ground But with
m effort he restrained and SAID hoarsely:
$50 to your room!"
Glad of the release, she fed to her room,
and throwing herself across the bed, sobbed
in anguish of spirit M she buried her face
upon the pillow: 'Oh, mother, mother"
Left to himself, Richard tramped up and
down in trapspart of demoniacal fury.
Suddenly unto mis- passion-raging heart
seemed to come the flint whisper, "Oh,
Richard, be kind TO my children" His
mind turned back through the intervening
years, to the deathbed of his wife; and he
could almost feel the feeble clSsp Of the
cold, dying fiugers that closed around his
own for the last time, in an agony of en-
treaty. And had he kept his promise9 Why
only moment before he had raised his
hand to strike her child TO the ground be-
cause she had dared go in opposition to his
wishes
At his feet yawned the blackness Of the
depths to which his unrestrained passions
were leading him, and for moment the
strong man tremb!ed and shrank back in
horror from himself.
Never before perhaps did he realize mora
fully the meekness aud patience with which
t;ie poor young wife had borne his tempers
and passions. He thought Of her a. he had
won her. a happy. eleesome girl. But the
blue eyes soon lost their lAnghing light, the
red lips their gladsome ur,es. and she had
faded. faded, until lifc's burdens grew too
hard for the weary heart. Bat even when
the tired eyes caught n glimpse of the rest
on the other side, the motaeT-spirit turred
buck in tenderness TO her children and
craved for them what she had never asked
for herseif-kindnesS Richard WAS man
q impulse. Upon The thought Of the mo-
nent a note was Dispatched; aud soon Leo
,iood for the fir-t time beneath his kinsman's
roof upOn terms of amity.
Ruth. going slowly down in response 70
! summons from her father. paused. dazed-
md helpless. AZ the sight Of Leo, towering,
radiant and smiling over the low mantle
Richards softened mood had not passed
.rar: - meeting bis daughter. be led her
TorEar5. placed her hand in Leo's, then dis
.reefiy left the r0o-a-
We may Be sgre thai leo arranged nat
er. 90 his own sailsfaciion: and uho shall